Creative Leaders versus Authoritative Leaders

This chart represents a summary of the kind of creative leadership that is rising -- and needed -- in the face of our increasing interconnectedness due to global economies, mobile devices, and social media. In an age where anyone can "friend" the CEO, and where complexity and volatility are the only constants, what should leadership look like? I often say we are now operating within a "heterarchy" though I've also cleverly seen it called the "wirearchy." In any case, it's a world where I believe the natural perspective of artists and designers -- who thrive in ambiguity, fail productively, and rebound naturally -- will be become more and more useful in leadership contexts.

The chart was originally created for a workshop at the Davos World Economic Forum in 2009 and became the basis of my book Redesigning Leadership, written with Becky Bermont. In my own observation, there are authoritative leaders and creative leaders everywhere -- it's not something wholly determined by industry, generation, or position. And every leader will need, on any given day, a little bit of both types of leadership.

I share it here because it's been frequently requested -- I hope it’s useful. -JM

Photo: Mopic/Shutterstock